Φίληβος

by Plato

"Φίληβος" by Plato is a dialogue written between 360 and 347 BC. It presents a fictional debate between Socrates and two young Athenians about whether pleasure or reason constitutes the highest good. Through careful analysis of different types of pleasure and their varying worth, Socrates challenges the hedonistic view that pleasure is the absolute Good. The dialogue explores fundamental questions about ethics, value hierarchies, and the nature of a successful life, ultimately proposing that proper measure and balance matter more than pleasure alone.